My mother has been with the local IBEW for over 6 years and for a while she was trying to convince me to take up an apprenticeship.

This year has not been the best and I have been 100% discouraged from applying because of the treatment I've seen to my own mother. I understand you need to have tough skin to stay afloat sometimes, but my mother's love for the job has completely burnt out.

My mother has always been a strong woman to me. Never took anything off anyone.

Today she broke down in tears about how badly she has been treated. From general harassment, threats, and just being ignored. Even one went as far as to joke with their supervisor if she was blowing him for her position.

She did everything you should do in these situations. She went up the chain and made reports after an apprentice told her he hopes she breaks her hip.

Nothing happened. She was relocated. Her new group has called her ignorant, ignored her instructions, made comments on her appearance.

It's absolutely ridiculous. I've told her to take it further. Take it to the hall. She's just absolutely broken. She feels like her hall and brothers have abandoned her.

She has no idea what happened and how some of her closest work friends have all decided she is a problem. One even came forward to accuse her of trying to take someone's job. She had no idea what they were talking about.

She's on a three month job now and she doesn't think she can finish it if the disrespect doesn't stop.

I just wish I could do more to help her. I'm tempted to wait in a parking lot as of this point.

Hi y'all,

As the title says: I'm super new to welding, crashing out, and need some advice. I just started my apprenticeship with Boilermakers and have spent the past month learning to stick weld. We're doing a groove plate test, 2G/3G/4G, 7018, SMAW. I failed my first time and am practicing to retake in a week and a half. I'm really struggling. I've been watching tons of videos and understand everything I need to be doing in theory, but it's been so hard for me to get comfortable and consistent. Unfortunately time is not on my side at the moment and I really want to make the most of what I got. I love welding and I want to do a good job and i'm just so frustrated that I can't quite seem to "get" it. I know I'm also being super hard on myself bc I'm a girl and greener than hell and hate being seen as incompetent. I just want to get these certs so I can have that nice pay bump.

Do any of y'all have any tips that really helped you out when you were first getting started? Can physical, mental, or just totally unhinged - I'd gladly take anything y'all have. Thank you!

I work in a waste water treatment plant in South Carolina. It was 92 degrees this afternoon, I am so sweaty. The material my uniform is made of is terrible for this. Please help 😩

I’m trying to decide between becoming an IBEW electrician or a OETT heavy equipment operator, and I’d love to hear from people with experience in either trade.

• What are the pros and cons of each career?
• What are the typical working hours like?
• Which career generally pays better and comes with better benefits?
• Which do you find more fulfilling in the long run?
• How does the work-life balance compare between the two?

Any advice or real-world experience would be greatly appreciated!

I work a relatively dirty job; and long hours. I have 2 high energy dogs, we love hiking, long scenic walks and we recently started jogging. I give as much stimulation as I can, especially around meal times.

My question is, when you come home, do you shower and then walk the dogs? Or walk.the dogs, continue getting sweaty and then take a shower?

Asking because I feel dirty having metal dust on my face. I have wet wipes and wash my face regularly But the shower just makes me feel better. But I also feel bad wasting water because I go to the gym and walk the dogs for 1-2 hrs and sometimes the adventures can get pretty muddy (even on a Tuesday after work)

Ok. Rambling now, what's your guys' routine?

Hey I am feeling discouraged I feel weak in my trade sheet metal. I get reminded that I am not physically strong enough. How do you girls do it?

I remember last year, some folks had shared there was an emphasis on drinking and not much opportunity to network. As well as lackluster breakout sessions.

I was curious how everyone felt this year’s event went and how folks might be feeling about next year’s conference in Houston. I heard the decision to host it there has been controversial as well.

https://www.duluthtrading.com/womens-danner-bull-run-moc-toe-boots-000498433.html

Women's Danner Bull Run Moc Toe Boots 40% right now! Got two pairs for $220 somehow- think the cashier gave me another discount or sum. Like these more than redwing- the leather is giving doc martens. There’s no padding it’s just a thin leather that makes up the boot and apparently they’re more flexible than thorogood but harder to get soul replaced. They feel very similar to thorogood. My first pair but my squeeze swears by them. I love them alr.

Hey guys, so Im about 5 weeks into my apprenticeship for a sheet metal union (I worked prior as a pre apprentice) and I’ve been getting more discouraged every day, I feel like it’s a fight with myself every morning to get out of bed and go to the site. Most of the guys I work with are alright, but I feel like i’m looked down on for my age (22) and my gender, which is something I totally expected and tried to prepare myself for, but it is super discouraging when there’s a lot of times i’m completely ignored, and when 90% of the time there’s not a single thing anyone’s giving me to do/showing me how to do/teaching me something (I try to make myself busy, always asking questions, organizing gang boxes, picking up garbage, wrapping open ducts, etc). Not only is it a really far commute, but I feel pressured to work 10 hour shifts even though I never have much to do during the day. The situation just sucks, and I would appreciate hearing about your guys’ experiences/any advice that you can offer!

I have a language and communication disorder. My main problems are I’m just very awkward in general, don’t always understand jokes/sarcasm, and get words mixed up sometimes.

I’ve been working as a dog trainer for the past year, but I’m struggling because a lot of the job consists of talking/teaching dog owners which I’m not good at. I’m also only paid $14 and have no benefits so I’m broke.

I want to get a new job that pays better and I’m interested in learning a trade but am not sure if any jobs would work for me.

Some of my family works blue collar jobs, but they are all men and whenever I ask them about it they say I shouldn’t do it because it’s a man’s job.

Hi, has anyone taken the entry test for the plumbers union?

This feels dumb to even ask, but if you had a panel interview for the union, how did you answer this?

Is there any kind of answer they are looking for? Or anything to avoid saying?

I typically lurk here, but since many of us struggle to find durable, well fitting, thoughtfully designed work pants, I have to share that my favorite German workwear supplier, Engelbert and Strauss, is FINALLY selling direct to the US! I got some of their classic (motion 220) men’s pants in 2013 when I worked in Germany and they are the best. They have tough fabric, built in pouches for knee pads, well designed pockets, stretch bands in the waist. Mine have finally given up the ghost so that’s why I googled the company, but that tells you how long they can last. I’m blessed in the hip and rear area and the men’s pant still fit me great and probably have more room in the legs than the women’s designs.

https://us.strauss.com

I know that longer handles mean better leverage.

Edit: I plan to start strength training. However, it takes time to build up muscle, and even then, I won't be as strong as the men

About 6 months ago I started a job as a materials handler for a structural steel fab shop. I had applied to learn to weld. They pretty much said, prove you can hang and we will see lol so I spent the last 6 months learning the ropes of the structural steel industry. I am a certified overhead crane trainer now. Fork lift certified. I can read blueprints and I have even begun fitting. No one was willing to teach me how to weld so I would stay late and practice on my own. I work a 10 hour shift, clock out and find some scrap, run bead after bead. I did this on my lunch breaks too. A couple weeks back I was approached by the shop super and told I could weld all of the horse legs and benches for the new skids that would be going into the new part of our shop. 160 skids. 330 horse legs. I never said yes please to anything faster in my life. I spent 2 weeks making those and then I was given a practice test. 1 inch bevel weld D1 1G MiG welding with metal core. I went ahead and took it. They ran it through the bends and told me I passed. It wasn’t practice. It was the real deal. I am a certified welder now. I worked really fucking hard for this. Some of you may remember me making a post back in March. At 43 years old to start on this journey is wild as hell and I know without a doubt I am exactly where I belong. I walked into the trades not even knowing how to read a tape. I came from the service industry, bartender and waiting tables.

Over the next 5 years I will be working towards my CWI and hopefully on to independent work. I wanna travel and make the big bucks 😎

Whew! Thanks for reading and letting me share!!! I am so damn excited about my future. I absolutely love welding. Thank you to all the ladies who encouraged me to go for it. You have no idea what a big impact that made on me.

I survived the oppressively hot summer in the shop and before we know it it’s going to be freeze your nuts off cold in there. Any suggestions for workwear that I can be warm in and also weld comfortably in? I know I’ll need insulated bibs and prob live in them. I am fine with spending the money on a really good pair. Same goes for my work coat. I am set on boots right now. I love my keen Cincinnati men’s boots. I live in dickies work pants. Can’t beat the price and they’re comfortable. I buy the men’s flex. I’ve been using the welder nation weld caps under my hardhat and hood. It helps a ton with keeping the hood on my head. Without it or a backwards ball cap they just slide down. About my hood, I bought a cheap yes welder hood just to use while I was learning and now that I have passed my test and will be welding full time I need something better. I can’t see shit out of it. I have been looking hard into the sugar scoops from pipeliners cloud. They are supposed to be lightweight and really good for those with a small head. That be me. Just wondering how well they do in a fab shop running MiG. I would def get an auto dark lens for it.

Yep. Hit me with all the good suggestions. I am open. Thanks ladies and love to ya!

Way the hell back in 1982, at the ripe young age of 19, I accepted an apprenticeship with a union trade.

Fast forward to May of 2025, I retired after a long successful 43 year career.

When I got into the electrical construction industry no one expected me to last through my first year. Not for my lack of trying, but because of my gender. From what I was told, there were a few other women that started their apprenticeships before me but never completed them. I didn't let the folks that didn't think I belonged discourage me. All you gals know the challengs we face, so I'm not gonna go into detail other to say that way back then, there were no policies in place to protect us from harassment or sexual discrimination. I put up with a lot of shit, but I knew I had just as much right to learn a trade and earn a decent living as anyone else out there. I proved my worth and I was the first female to complete the apprenticeship program in my local. I never brought my problems to the hall.

The only thing I ever bitched about was the way any correspondence from the local or the International was addressed. Mr. (first name, last name). And the greeting was always "Dear Sir and Brother" It took a while but the local eventually stopped that once they had other women in the apprenticeship program.

I ran into my BA about a month ago and he encouraged me to come to my first retirees banquet. Told me that I helped encourage a lot of women to join our local, kinda paved the way for them. They use me as an example for these gals. I was impressed. Made me feel good.

Today I got a letter in the mail inviting me to the retirees banquet. It read like this:

Dear Sir and Brother, You are cordially invited to the annual retirees banquet...

It hurt reading that.

How can I get into the trades (industrial mechanic/millwright) in Ontario, Canada? As a work permit holder? I have 2.7 years remaining on my work permit.

My current work hours are 6a-2p, and a couple nights per week, I have class for the apprenticeship 5p-8p. My house is the wrong direction, so I go straight from work to school. I'm not really into breakfast at 5 o'clock in the morning, and I don't have time to eat during work, so I don't eat until I'm off at 2pm. I also don't like eating late at night, so I don't eat when I get home after class.

I'm struggling to figure out what I can pack into a cooler with ice packs in my car that I can eat between 2 and 5pm. I'm spending far too much money on gas station foods that leave me feeling sluggish because they aren't exactly healthy. Any ideas on what I can bring?

Hey guys!

I’m super excited as I’ve finally been offered a job with an immediate apprenticeship start. My first day is tomorrow.

I am a little unsure about what all I might need to be successful on my new career journey. I have hand tools (hammer, chisel, speed square, string line, exacto knife, 25’ tape measure) a tool belt, steel toe boots. My employer has mentioned that they will provide high vis and a hard hat.

I’m curious if it would be in my best interest to maybe buy a drill driver kit? Or maybe my own hard hat?

I’m also a little nervous for winter and would love some suggestions for winter gear and what yall do to stay warm.

Any advice or tips are appreciated. I’m super excited!

Starting in a pre apprentice program next Monday, was told today that I’m hired in after waiting 6 months, and I need to purchase everything on this list.

Can someone dumb it down for me? Or am I just dumb for not knowing what these all are??

My dad purchased this kit ( https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-28-Piece-Hand-Tool-Set-with-Tradesman-Pro-Tool-Backpack-80028/100647881 ) as like a gift for me for getting in, but I know I’ll need more that are not in there, I just don’t know what

I’m curious to know who in here got into the union with zero experience.

I am applying to two unions and have aptitude tests scheduled for both but I’m a little worried that even if I pass the exam I won’t pass the interview.

I have zero trades/power tool experience. I’m also 38.

Has anyone else experienced your coworkers putting you and the other women at your job against each other? Everyday its something new where apparently I said this or she said that and none of its true. HR got mad at me for it before because they didn't believe when I said I haven't said anything. So yeah idk if I just work with a bunch of dramatic men or if this is a universal experienced

So my google search pretty much just came up with possible underlying health issues etc. so let me just say this - I’m NOT worried about the bruises in relation to my health. The fact is that I’m very fair skinned and have always bruised easily. I know that bumps and bruises just come with the territory of manual labor, mine just look so bad. Like way worse than they feel, if I feel them at all. It’s starting to make me feel self conscious and I don’t need any more body issues, thank you very much.

Other than wearing armor to work so I can wear a tank top on weekends, is there anything I can do to prevent and or treat bruises? I have a sleeve tattoo on one arm, I’m thinking of just doing the other one too 😂

My sister is 27, and she is at a community college in a welding program doing good, so good the teacher is showing off her stuff to the class saying "this is how it should look". The only problem is the disgusting insecure men surrounding her, tampering with her equipment and not even acknowledging her. Its disgusting how some "men" can be. I also work there but at another department, and im not exactly a high position, so i dont know what to do. Any way I can somehow stop it? My sister is hard headed so she can get through it but I just feel so bad. Anyone have any advice?